Sex offender checks ahead of Halloween

It's October, so that means the Martin County Sheriff's Office was up early checking on sex offenders ahead of Halloween. In just a couple hours time, deputies went to homeless camps in the woods, knocked on doors in neighborhoods, and even took the marine unit to check on an offender living on the water in a sailboat.

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It's October, so that means the Martin County Sheriff's Office was up early checking on sex offenders ahead of Halloween. In just a couple hours time, deputies went to homeless camps in the woods, knocked on doors in neighborhoods, and even took the marine unit to check on an offender living on the water in a sailboat.

They're using new technology to track sex offenders, making sure they're living where they say they are. The new software allows them to put an address or place on a map and they are given a radius that quickly lets them see what's around.

"It takes a lot of the guessing work out of it," said Sgt. Matthew Immordino. "It allows us to more accurately pinpoint where sex offenders are and aren't supposed to be."

They also asked them to take note of any restrictions they might have regarding Halloween and to abide by them.

On the water, the sheriff's office uses buoy numbers and GPS to track the longitude and latitude of offenders.

"Our predators are a big concern in the population," said Sgt. Immordino. "We want them to know we are here watching."